Pendulum-type ball check valve



Fl R. LONG 2,603,450

PENnULuM-TYPE BALL CHECK VALVE v Filed oct. 14, 1948 July 15, 1952 i v 8g Gti neg Patented July 15, 1952 1 rf y catalanas. 401.2514123).-

This invention relates more particularly to a valve including a pendulum-type ball having special features of construction particularly adaptingthesame to heavy duty installations. A y

A primary object of the invention is to provide afnovel mounting for the'ball in combination with`r`v v@EN Ummm-11:"BALLJcEck'vArv-wfi *Y Fre'dRLo'ngyCatawissa, Pan I' a casing or jhousing which permits the valve to openfully lin one direction to allowunobstructed flowof liquids, gases, yor 'the insertion of cleaning devices through the valve. VIn that'connection, thev invention alsoprovidesa pendulumtype ball valvearrangement which isfrlll pgingjm@ i operated in either a horizontal"orfverticalposi-fT tion.- i l.

"Another and more lspecific object of the (invention is to provide a novel ball and ballmounting which includesv means for suspending'the ball on a link or lever whereby the ball isnot only free to rotate on its `own aXis about the link so as toA continually present new surfaces to the valve seat,` but'is also mounted on the link by suitable alignment springs Which'prevent undue shifting of the ball longitudinally onv the link and at thel same time insure alignment lof the ball 'with the valve seat. In other lwords,` the ball is resiliently y-l'irnila'rreference"'charactersdesignate corre'- f spondingparts throughout theV several "figure/s' of theirawnss` i As'W'ill-be observed f fromthe drawings, the

valve includes a casing-'A provided at opposite ends thereof with externalthreads ior receiving conventionalv coupling llink and a union 'asser'nbliesy 4 designated generally as '13.y '-The'casing Av is longi-l tudinally formed with aV passageway C of` different Y v .lia'rnelt'ers fory reasons `'which fwillhereinafterl #appear, and alsoyproviddw-ithj aV valve-'se'atn' the l'said passageway communicating 'withfthe unions ,of the coupling arrangement B--- One side ofthe casing laterallyriser/'asV indicated' at E' to provideafball *valve je ceiwvii'ngv chamber F, said cliamber'being s6 proportioned'- andarranged longitudinally vand transversely as mounted on the link so as to have substantially av floating action thereon vin order tor insure vthe ball readily and quickly adjusting itself tothe seat in its movement relative thereto."

A further object of theV invention-is lto provide the pendulous ball asseinblyvvith a shock spring for preventing the ball from striking the casing with .a sharp blow or impactif and when it is unseated quickly by a surge of` fluid pressure'Y in the line.

With the above and other objects -in- 'View whichwill more readily appear-'asv the nature of the invention is better under-stood, the sameaconsists in` thev novel construction; combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter morefully described, illustrated and claimed.' I

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in ings,nwhi'ch: l

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view'of a lvalve embodying the presentirnprveinents; the ball being shown -in elevation; v f

on the line 2-2 of Figure l Figure 3 is a detail view,l the pendulous ball-unit assemblyl Figure l is a perspective view ofn'jthetpring Figure 2 is a vertical-cross sectional view taken 'partly' resection, of

clip yWashers for holding the ball axially" on the link. 'f

thek accompanying draw.'

tofully accommodate-the ballA I when it moved tov lull open'position, "thereby to provide unob` stri'ictedl free flow Vthrough th-passageWay-C, and

to also permit the insertionjof cleaning devices' readily through the entire "valve when necessary.

Referringy further 'tothe ball' il; v'itl will be' observed that the same is'p'rovided with an axial opening fhaving the relatively restricted, intermediate bore 2 and the recesses 3 at opposite ends thereof. Thus, as willbe seen from the drawings; the lrestricted bore 2 of the- -ball .Ir is adapted to receive .the suspending link or .armv 4, as clearlyy shown yin Figure 3; The ball is "resiliently mounted Yon the'link through` the medium ofthe l coil springs 5 which*y are held i'n the recesses 3 byrmeansrof fork-type spring clip Washers 6.

These'washers are engaged in suitable grooves in .the link 4 and areof less diameter than the re-k cesses- V3, but of sufficient width-toI form-abutit will" be apparent that 'the ball. l'isf' vspring mounted 'or cushioned fin both rilire'ctions'lon'ithe link-ll. In other words,A theV ball`- 'If is'v yieldingly mounted '-fo'r limited movement longitudinally of the link 4, thereby making it possible forthe-ball to'resiliently remain -in V` al given location on'f'the link 4 Vso as alwaystobe in ya position-to engage the seat Il) upon closing, 'A' -ball'moun'ted in this fashion- "cannot vstickl nmthe link --an'd avo'i'dfull closing kwhen' llow in the'line ceases 'or ijs'reversc'edA from its fnormal direction, other-Words, they a ball will normally registerfwith'the-va'lve seat and Vavoid-the seat wearing'oblong .or-out offv round. It will also beunderstoodi'tlf'iat the 'ball-I is'free to rotate on thelink'fkl :s oas to-continually bring differentportionsi thereof v-totl'ie"seat DL- thermore it allows thevball I to always'be in contact with the seat D, Veven though there is no back pressure. Moreover, with this arrangement 4 cushion the impact of the blow and thus prevent damage to the valve and also reduce clatter to a minimum.

As the ball I moves toward and from the seat, it may freely turn axially on the link to bring different surfaces thereof into contact with the seat D, and, as previously. described, When the ball I moves to the seat D, it will also be cushioned into proper seating position by the springs 5. vWhen it becomes necessary"toI insert a cleaning ldevice inthe line, it ywill be apparent that the device may be inserted inthe direction of the arrow in Figure 1 and the ball will be moved fully it is unnecessary to make the oisetportion E`of Y the casing extend as far laterally outward as it would be if the link were not tan'g'entially' mounted, as shown and described.

The hub 'I of the link has'partially 'coiled it thereabout the forked upper end 8 of a cushion.

shock absorbing spring 9 whose intermediate and lowencrossectionalprole conform to and clear the outer'faceofthe'fball I while its llower end I0 is directed inwardly and providedfwith-an opening` toV 'fitover,I thelowrer endY of the` link 4.

The end` I0, of the-cushion-or shockabsorberv spring'fis -held to the link by means cfa spring thereby to maintain- Ythe lowerend of Vthe spring Qrinterlocked with theflink.Y

Thefhub 1 of the link-isadaptedtoreceive an axle .-j I 2 which passesthrgugh thesame and hasV one `end -i-ltted :inv-the socket portion |13, as shownin Figure 2.? The-opposite end of theI axle4 I2l is mountedina ,socket of the screw-plug ,I3 whichis ttediintc thefside Wall of. the casingnand-v providedwithan exterior operating heady-I4. Thus the plug--ISV-not only secures-the -axle I2 in the housing ,-E, but also serves-tosealthe-plug opening so' as to make a uid-tightjoint-which is the onlyl opening necessary in the-entire valve housingrjexcept, ofgcourse, the openings which `form v part of the passageway C.

.Y With reference to thev manner of assembling the-,ball in the housing, it1Willbe-observed that ther passageway C at the end oppositethe seat D isk of'fsufciently large diameter to admit the ball,

the-link and the cushion spring r9. Once the ball unit.'V assembly is inserted in the-housing A, kthe latteris manipulated so that the ball falls in the chamber or pocket F-thereby to bring the eye 'I into position to receive the axle I2 which is then put-in position to pivotallyl mount the-.ball-unit assembly prior to the installation ofthe plug I3` to; s complete the 'final ball. v Y

The operation ofthe device is as follows: Y

Assuming-thatthecasing for housing Ais inserted'in-the uid line by means of the coupling arrangement-Bfit will be understood that the offsetportion E of thehousing is uppermost when installation of the check the valVeis-installed in a Yhorizontal line; or, lon

theline.` If uid pressure surges in the line inV the directionof the arrow, it may be that the ball I is swung fully -to the dottedline position shown in .Figure 1. In that event, the cushion spring 9 will vengage the inside` wall offthe chamber F and into the chamberFrso as tooifer an unimpeded pathto the cleaning device.

From the foregoing it is believed that the fea- .tures and advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, land it Will'of course be understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.`

. 1. A valve, comprising, a casingv having a passageway provided with -a valve seat,v saidcasing' also having a transversely oifset portion constituting va ball accommodating chamber-to -move transversely relative to said valve seat, a checkball unit pivotally-supported in thechamber,` said4 unit comprising. a supporting hub .having a. vtangentially` disposed link formed` therewith, a

ballmounted on said link for-.rotation thereabout,

cooperating-means on thelink and the. ball for resiuenuy, mounting said bau iongtudinauy of the link,i andfa cushion Vshock .absorbing spring having its intermediate portion disposed in spacedvi relationto the .ball and having opposite ends thereof `respectively connected with the-hub and with, the link.

2. A.valve, comprising, a casing having apas.- sageway provided Witha valve seat, said casing alsohaving `a transversely offset-portion constituting a ball-accommodating chambena check ball unitwithin -the f housing, said `unit comprislng` a link tangentially .connected to-a hub, an axlemounted in the chamber portion of the Vvalve casing; and supporting fthe hub portion of they link,` aballrmounted on the. link for transverse movement `relative to the valveV seat, said ball havingVr a centralbore for slidably engagingV the link and also :provided with recesses at opposite endsA of, the bore, `coil springs surrounding the link;V and mounted in said recesses, means on oppos1tes1des of theball andinterengaged with said link -for engaging'. said springsV therebyA to f yieldinglymount the ball on the link for longitudinal movement thereon, and spring meansr for-cushioningthe impact-of the ball at the end ofits opening stroke with` respect'to rthe inside face of said chamber.- 3. A valve,lcomprising, acasing having al passagewayprovided with a Valve seat, said casing also having a transversely oifset portion constitutinga ball accommodating chamber, a check ball unit withinthehousing, said unit comprising a pendulum-type link pivotallysupported inl thechamber portion of the casing,l a ball rotatably and yieldingly-supportedon the link for self-adjusting movement relative toy the Vvalve seatand alsoadapted for` transverse lswinging movement relative thereto, and a` at shock absorbingvspring having opposite ends thereof connected to the opposite end portions ofthe link and having its intermediate portionoifset vfrom the ball, saidat spring being arranged at the side of the ball adapted to approach the outside face,

of the chamber when the ball is moved to full open position within the chamber.

4. A valve device comprising a casing provided with a passageway for fluid and with a valve seat surrounding said passageway, a ball valve for cooperation with said seat, an arm pivotally mounted in said casing in transversely offset relationship to said passageway and by which said ball valve is carried for transverse swinging movement between closed and open positions relative to said seat, said ball valve being mounted on said arm for rotation about the same and for longitudinal movement relative thereto, and spring means cooperating with said ball valve and said arm to yieldably resist longitudinal.y

movement of said ball valve in either direction along said arm and to hold said ball valve normally in a position longitudinally of said arm such that said ball Valve registers with said valve seat when said ball valve is swung to its closed position against said seat.

5. A valve device comprising a easing provided with a passageway for fluid and with a valve seat surrounding said passageway, a ball valve for cooperation with said seat, an arm pivotally mounted in said casing in transversely oiset relationship to said passageway and by which said ball valve is carried for transverse swinging movement between closed and open positions relative to said seat, said ball valve being mounted on said arm for rotation about the same and for longitudinal movement relative thereto, abutments on said arm at opposite sides of said ball valve, and springs interposed between opposite sides of said ball valve and said abutments, respectively, to yieldably resist longitudinal movement of said ball valve in either direction along said arm and to hold said ball valve normally in a position longitudinally of said arm such that said ball valve registers with said valve seat when said ball valve is swung to its closed position against said seat.

6. A valve device as set forth in claim 5 including a spring arm connected at its ends to end portions of the arm and extending over and in spaced relationship to the ball valve remote from the seating side of the latter for contact with the casing wall to absorb shock incident to full opening of the ball valve.

FRED R. LONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '719,842 McCormick Feb. 3, 1903 745,742 Taube Dec. 1, 1903 999,584 Orton Aug. 1, 1911 1,684,905 Bastian Sept. 18, 1928 1,721,353 Oxford July 16, 1929 1,856,138 Ruemelin May 3, 1932 2,059,531 Long Nov. 3, 1936 

